The following are the Pre-Conference Event speakers:

Susan Gonders, Ed.D., professor, Southern Missouri State University, Susan Gonders, Ed.D., brought 21 years of public relations experience serving more than 300 clients to her public relations classroom. She is now a tenured full professor at Southeast Missouri State University, head of the public relations program and advisor to PRSSA-SE. She is newsletter editor for both the PRSA Educators Academy and the AEJMC Public Relations Division and is a member of PRSA’s Educational Affairs Committee.

Peter H. Hollister, APR, Fellow PRSA,CPRC, principal & counsel, Hollister, Trubow & Associate, Peter H. Hollister, APR, Fellow PRSA, CPRC, is Principal and Counsel with Hollister, Trubow & Associates. He has worked in the corporate sector for an electric utility, in the not-for-profit sector as vice president for three different universities, and as a consultant, originally with Jackson Jackson & Wagner. He co-founded HT&A in 1986. Simultaneously, he spent 33 years in military public affairs, retiring from the U.S. Army Reserves as a Colonel. In 1975, Hollister developed the first strategic communication plan for a university. He serves as PRSA's strategic communication planning seminar leader. He has presented seminars internationally on strategic planning, communications research, consulting skills and communication effectiveness studies. He is a recipient of the Steuben Crystal Apple award for excellence in teaching from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Hollister is a co-founder and past president of PRSA's Yankee Chapter, and was a chapter officer and state board member of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). He is the author of the study guide "Successful Strategic Public Relations Planning" and has contributed articles and chapters to numerous publications. He earned the CPRC designation through FPRA and was inducted into PRSA's College of Fellows in 1992.

James E. Lukaszewski, APR, Fellow PRSA, ABC, CCEP, CEO, The Lukaszewski Group Inc., Jim Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA. Jim is among America’s major league strategic public relations consultants, with more than 25 years experience in dealing with sensitive issues facing corporate, nonprofit, government and international clients. Jim is widely quoted and has published five books (some with PRSA). His dynamic presentation and teaching style make him a sought-after speaker and coach. He is the recipient of Ball State University’s 2004 National Public Relations Achievement Award, the 2004 Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to PRSA, and the 2005 PR News Lifetime Achievement Award. Corporate Legal Times lists Jim as one of “28 Experts to Call When All Hell Breaks Loose,” and PR Week lists him as one of 22 “crunch-time counselors who should be on the speed dial in a crisis.”

Margo Mateas, president, Public Relations Training Company, Margo Mateas is known around the world as “The Media Relations Maven.” She is an award-winning writer, 20-year public relations industry veteran and former newspaper and radio journalist who trains public relations practitioners to secure coverage in The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, CNN, Oprah, USA Today, Time and more. ??Margo writes the popular "Media Relations Maven" monthly column in PRSA’s Tactics newspaper, which is read by more than 20,000 practitioners in several countries. Her website draws more than 60,000 unique visitors each year from all over the world. Her email pitching tips and 10 Commandments of Smart Media Relations are included in the best-selling textbook, Public Relations Writing: Form & Style. She is also a frequent contributor to the Public Relations Strategist and Publicity Insider. She is the recipient of the Advertising Club of America's ADDY award, as well as PRSA's Polaris award. Margo is also the author of an eagerly-awaited book on media relations and pitching tips. Seminar attendees regularly report doubling and even tripling their press coverage immediately following training. If you’re looking for real-world advice from a pro who knows the inside track on how to get stories placed, don’t miss this sell-out seminar!

Michael Parkinson, Ph.D., J.D., APR, professor, Texas Tech University, Michael Parkinson, Ph.D., J.D., APR, brought 10 years of public relations experience and 11 years of experience as a practicing attorney to the classroom. He is now a tenured full professor at Texas Tech University, director of the graduate program, advisor to PRSSA-Texas Tech, and head of the AEJMC Public Relations Division.

Robert Pritchard, APR, Fellow PRSA, Associate Professor, Ball State University, Captain, U.S. Navy (ret.), Bob “Pritch” Pritchard, APR, Fellow PRSA, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired) An Associate Professor teaching public relations, Pritchard completed his 27-year naval career as the director of public relations for the United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, his third consecutive Unified Command public relations position. In the span of those three assignments, he managed all U.S. military public relations activity in 73 countries, territories and possessions in the Pacific, 91 countries in Africa, Europe and the Middle East and for the Nation’s strategic forces. Throughout his career as a Navy Public Affairs Officer, he has been the principle spokesperson for many sensitive issues, including the terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon and the capture of the ACHILLE LAURO pirates. He serves as the faculty adviser for Cardinal Communications, the University’s nationally affiliated, student-run public relations agency and as assistant faculty adviser for the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter.

J.D. Rayburn, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, CPRC, associate professor, Florida State University

Deborah Saline, APR, Fellow PRSA, COO, PRWorks, Inc., Introduction – Robert S. Saline, APR Saline’s expertise includes communications strategy, crisis communications, marketing and public relations. He counsels clients in communications strategy, media and issues management, statistical and focus group research, public relations planning and all areas of marketing communications. He has developed a highly-effective program using positive reinforcement that can be tailored to the needs of any organization and produce focused media spokespersons. Saline has trained hundreds of qualified spokespersons for associations and corporations. Clients have included: DrugFree PA, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Geisinger Medical Center, Centre Community Hospital, and Easton Hospital. Saline is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and is a charter member of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter. He is the recipient of numerous awards in the communications industry including the coveted Frederick E. Leuschner Award, saluting excellence in public relations awarded by the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of PRSA. He is a frequent guest lecturer at Messiah College, York College, Millersville University, Shippensburg University and Susquehanna University.

Robert Saline, APR, president and CEO, PRWorks, Inc., Introduction – Robert S. Saline, APR Saline’s expertise includes communications strategy, crisis communications, marketing and public relations. He counsels clients in communications strategy, media and issues management, statistical and focus group research, public relations planning and all areas of marketing communications. He has developed a highly-effective program using positive reinforcement that can be tailored to the needs of any organization and produce focused media spokespersons. Saline has trained hundreds of qualified spokespersons for associations and corporations. Clients have included: DrugFree PA, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Geisinger Medical Center, Centre Community Hospital, and Easton Hospital. Saline is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and is a charter member of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter. He is the recipient of numerous awards in the communications industry including the coveted Frederick E. Leuschner Award, saluting excellence in public relations awarded by the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of PRSA. He is a frequent guest lecturer at Messiah College, York College, Millersville University, Shippensburg University and Susquehanna University.

Eric Schwartzman, managing director, Schwartzman & Associates, founder and chairman, iPressroom, Public relations executive and new media pioneer Eric Schwartzman is founder and chairman of the online newsroom provider iPressroom and managing director of Los Angeles public relations firm Schwartzman & Associates.

Angela D. Sinickas, ABC, president, Sinickas Communications, Inc., Angela Sinickas is president of Sinickas Communications, Inc., a 7-year-old consulting firm specializing in communication measurement with clients in Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong--as well as in the US, Canada and Mexico. She has been measuring the effectiveness of communication since 1981. Her 32-year career includes consulting at Mercer and Hewitt, as well as roles ranging from editor to vice president at the University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago Tribune Company and Secomerica. Her prolific publications (nearly 100) and speaking engagements in 19 countries have made her name synonymous with practical measurement of organizational communication. She is the author of the manual How to Measure Your Communication Programs, a regular columnist for Melcrum’s magazine Strategic Communication Management and on the editorial boards of two professional journals. Angela’s work has been recognized with 15 international communication awards, five of them for measurement and two of them for her web site. She has served on the PRSA Communication Audit Committee.

Patricia A. Trubow, APR, Fellow PRSA, CPRC, principal & counsel, Hollister, Trubow & Associates, Patricia A. Trubow, APR, Fellow PRSA, CPRC, is Principal and Counsel with Hollister, Trubow & Associates (HT&A). She has served as a communications coordinator for a regional planning council, as public relations coordinator for a major electric utility and as head of communications for a multi-hospital healthcare system. Since co-founding HT&A in 1986, she has counseled corporate, not-for-profit, governmental and professional services clients. Several programs for which Trubow has been responsible have won major awards, in part because of her commitment to proving their value by measuring their effectiveness. She is the co-designer of the communications effectiveness study process (CES) pioneered by the firm and considered by many to be the industry standard. Her specialties, in addition to the CES are research, publication evaluation (text and design), strategic planning and employee communications. Trubow has served as both chapter and state president of FPRA, as a two-term chair of the North American Public Relations Council and as an officer of the Cincinnati Chapter of PRSA. She was inducted into PRSA's College of Fellows in 1992 and holds FPRA's highest accreditation, Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC).

TJ Walker, president and owner, Media Training Worldwide, TJ Walker, president of Media Training Worldwide, and the New York Chapter of PRSA is one of the world’s leading authorities on media and presentation training. With more than 20 years of media training experience, Walker has trained thousands of CEOs, and experts worldwide, including leading government across the world. He is producer and host of daily audio and video Speakcast broadcasts covering media and presentation training tips and techniques and The Speaking Channel Network. Walker is the most widely published and produced media trainer in the globe, with more than 50 books, training videos, CDs, and software programs to his credit. He has also been a media columnist for Investor Relations Magazine. His company is an industry leader in the media and presentation training fields. Walker is a frequent news commentator and has appeared often on MSNBC, Fox News Channel, Court TV, and Bloomberg TV. He has also been a syndicated TV and talk show host, appearing or hosting on more than 2000 TV and radio shows. Walker has also hosted talk radio shows on seven different networks and has been featured in the New York Times, NBC News, ABC News, CBS radio and most major radio news outlets.

Ann Wylie, president, Wylie Communications, Inc., Kristen Wylie is the corporate communications manager at Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: NUAN), a speech software provider with solutions for the mobile search and communications industry. In this role, she develops innovative communications strategies to establish products, penetrate new markets, build visibility and develop brand awareness. Before joining Nuance, she was the marketing communications manager at HMS Software, a niche provider of enterprise manufacturing software. Wylie also served as an account manager at Marenghi Public Relations, with high-tech clients in various industries. In addition to standard agency activities, such as press release development, executive media training/press tours, and analyst relations, she placed a high priority on proactive media placement. Beyond editorial calendars and product launches, she secured significant media interest for clients through creative media pitches. Wylie also held various corporate communications roles at Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) (NASDAQ:PMTC), a leading supplier of product development and information management software. Wylie earned a master’s degree in public relations from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Union College.